It lands well, and that’s about where the praise ends. The ski is decently playful, but the desire to fall between heavier and freestyle models catches up to it in this regard. PlayfulnessĪs much as it shines in certain areas, the Rustler 11 could be more poppy. You just shouldn’t expect much more than that. It’s pretty stable for a lightweight option. It still gives you a decently smooth ride thanks to the dampness, but that’s not going to make up for what the Rustler 11 lacks. It’s a solid model at slower speeds and enables you to keep stable at all but the most extreme speeds. Instead, it’s a more precise option for those conditions. It’s not a large workhorse, and you shouldn’t treat it as such. You’re going to have some trouble with refrozen chunks as well as tricky terrain, but you can push the ski in the chop if you’re determined. As such, it’s not going to be able to plow through harder snow with ease. Losing some weight definitely helps with maneuverability in the bumps and allows you to have some fun every now and then. However, the Rustler 11 is a lighter ski. That gets even worse when you consider the wide tips and tails, both of which can easily get caught in larger bumps. The Rustler 11 is a lot of ski, which is not the best when you need to navigate between moguls rapidly. As long as you favor wider turns as opposed to tight ones, you’ll be happy to bring this out to groomed snow time and time again. The ski does decently on variable groomers, but you’re going to lose some performance when moving through more challenging areas. One issue here is that the lighter design holds you back when things get tricky. It gives you good results regardless of if you ski forward or from the center. You’re not going to get a lot of energy when coming out of a turn, but it’s not completely dead either. Though the tip and tail rocker don’t entirely facilitate this, the ski is easy to get on edge too. It’s quite a lot of fun to carve on soft groomed slopes and smoother off-piste destinations.

While the Rustler 11 isn’t built specifically for groomers, it still holds its own. It may not be a true touring ski, but I find it holds its own if you’re somebody who wants to do a little bit of everything. The model also excels in deep powder due to the lighter weight construction. It does well in and out of bounds, especially if you get a shorter model. This ski has a lot of applications, which makes it a viable 50/50 option. The most important aspect of the Rustler 11 is the versatility. It may be a bit too well rounded for skiers who need a specialized setup, but it does the job for people who like to mix it up on the slopes. The ski can be taken out into many different conditions and hit a lot of versatile terrains. The model is pretty playful, decently strong, and can be pushed without being too demanding. The Rustler 11 is a fun ski for seasoned skiers. I have spent ample time researching these skis, going over their traits, and analyzing how they handle a wide range of unique elements. I enjoy getting out in the snow and have hands-on experience with a wide range of different skiing items. I’ve been hitting the slopes since I was a kid. While it’s not the strongest ski on the market, the Rustler 11 has a construction that should hold up well in all but the most extreme environments.